New to me -- Texas Natural Feed

[happybooker1]

Non soy, no GMO, no chemicals & produced in Texas. I got a bag of scratch & a bag of Layer pellets for $52 & change total. Don't know how they'll do on it as I just started a few days ago, but the hens are gobbling it up!

http://www.texasnaturalfeeds.com

 

[realsis]

When I saw the ingredients, it makes me wonder when they list it as "grain products" and "plant products" and "animal protien products". Feeds usually specifically list each grain, and each protien and plant if used. I would ask the company what's meant by grain product? "Plant" product? And especially "animal protien" "product"? I would be a little leary of a company that does not list each grain, plant, ect. and animal protien "product" I'm not sure what exactly that is? They state they are non Gmo, but they are not USDA certified organic? I would dig a little deeper and try to find out exactly what's in the feed? When things are only listed as a grain "product" or a plant "product" or animal protien "product" it would concern me a little bit. What grains or product of the grain are they using? What plant or product of the plant are they using? And especially what animal protien part or "product" are they putting in the feed? I guess I'm just overly cautious when it comes to feed lately because my last flock suffered a vitamin defiency while on a name brand "complete" feed. I've since switched to a non GMO, USDA certified organic, non soy, non corn feed.. They feed lists each and every WHOLE grain, and protien. Sometimes you have to be careful when you see things listed as a grain product, it can be pieces of grains or even husks it's just a "product" of the grain itself, same with the plants, and the animal protien "product" . What part of the animal, or product of the animal and what animal? Do you see what I'm saying? It does not even have to be a grain listed this way, it can just be a product of the grain. I'm assuming you listed this to get our options on it and I hope I'm not offending as that's not my intent. I'm only trying to caution you as to when ingredients are listed this way what they REALLY are is anyone's guess? I would ask the company what grain product or product of the grain they are indeed using in their feed. I would also ask about the plant and animal protien "product" and see exactly what that is? If you are going to continue to feed this feed, I would defiantly ask so you know exactly what your feeding! It means enough to you to get a non GMO feed I'm sure you will want to know what's in that feed and what do they mean by saying "product". A grain product can be anything produced from the grain. I would want them to be much more specific about their ingredients. If your looking for a good non GMO, all USDA certified organic feed, Scratch and peck makes a wonderful feed corn and soy free, and you can read all the ingredients. If you want a organic non GMO with corn countryside organics makes a good one too. I really hope this is helpful and I wish the very best to you and your flock. Just be careful how they list ingredients, and do ask the company about what's in the feed so you know exactly what your feeding.maybe I'm over cautious, but after my flock got the vitamin defiency from the feed I was giving them I try to be very careful now with what I feed. I really hope this helps. God bless.

 

[pdirt]

The Texas Natural Feeds you mention could be a great thing. I guess you have to trust the company is selling you an honest product. They are NOT "certified GMO free", which is a stringent standard nearly equal to USDA certified organic (the standards are different for each organic and GMO, but the requirements to meet each are comparable). TexasNF says their feed is tested multiple times a year by an independent lab for GMOs. Which lab? What if they get several tests in a row that test positive for GMOs? Do they just find other "independent lab" that will finally give them the result they want?

Not trying to be negative Nelly here, but in cases like this it's wise to perform due diligence to see if you can truly trust this company so you aren't wasting your money.

I'd be more interested in this feed if it were also tested for pesticides and herbicides.

 

[SavageDestiny]

The reason companies put things like "grain products" or "animal protein products" on their ingredient labels is so they can change the feed ingredients at any time without having to change the labeling on the bags. It allows them to buy the cheapest possible ingredients every time they need something because they don't have to stick to a certain named ingredient.

So, "grain products" could be corn one batch, brewer's rice another, wheat the next, etc. It can be poor quality grain fractions (like rice or wheat hulls) instead of whole grains as well instead of whole grains because "grain products" can mean anything. Language like this on feed bags is specifically used in order to allow the company to use whatever they can get cheap. I worked in the dog food industry for a long time and dog foods pull the same tricks.

 

[happybooker1]

I guess I'm not THAT concerned since (1) I have 5 Banty hens so not feeding a huge flock, (2) they are free-range (as much as possible -- they have a fenced-in area about 25' X 45'), (3) they get kitchen scraps also, scrambled eggs and hen bread made especially for them out of "human" food, (4) I'm not selling the eggs so I don't have to certify them as "guaranteed non-GMO", etc.

Yes I want the best for my pets up to a cost-prohibitive measure. This was the cheapest feed I've found that is 'non-GMO, etc.' since I've seen H&H and a couple of others (don't remember the exact name now). I DO know the scratch is complete whole grains and the chickies love it.

I appreciate all the extra knowledge and cautions -- I just put this out there in case there's anyone that would like to try it. I now have 100# of feed (better I feel than regular scratch and Layena) that will probably last me 8 months or more!!

 

[newtwinmom]

I feel the same way about the label but when it's Tx Naturals or Purina, what's the lesser evil? With that being said, I've been feeding Tx Naturals for about six months and am not a fan. I'd go back to Coyote Creek in a minute if I could get it. I'm brooding my first set of chicks on it and having lots of trouble with waste and vitamin deficiencies (E at the moment) and general poorness. Also, I prefer to ferment feed and it molds within 48hr where as the CC fermented beautifully.

 

[southernmomma]

I feel the same way about the label but when it's Tx Naturals or Purina, what's the lesser evil? With that being said, I've been feeding Tx Naturals for about six months and am not a fan. I'd go back to Coyote Creek in a minute if I could get it. I'm brooding my first set of chicks on it and having lots of trouble with waste and vitamin deficiencies (E at the moment) and general poorness. Also, I prefer to ferment feed and it molds within 48hr where as the CC fermented beautifully.

I switched from them for suspected vitamin deficiency as well. Multiple chicks down in the legs over a period of 4 days and significant recovery within a day of changing to a different feed.

M

 

[matt44644]

Guaranteed Analysis: Crude Protein (Min) 18%, Lysine (Min) .40%, Methionine (Min) .15%, Crude Fat (Min) 3.0%, Crude Fiber (Max) 8.0%, Calcium (Ca) (Min) 1.5%, Calcium (Ca) (Max) 2.5%, Phosphorus (P) (Min) .50%, Salt (NaCl) (Min) .50%, Salt (NaCI) (Max) 1.5%

The Lysine and Methionine seem low about half the amount of the big companies.

 

[Liberator]

I bought a bag of Texas natural feeds and didn't care for it. I may not have been on it long enough to notice any vitamin deficiencies but the egg yolks were a pale yellow. I paid $22 for a bag. It just wasn't worth the price. I lost a chef customer over my yolk color.

 

[reindeermama]

I kept getting weevils in the bags I bought. Never had problems before. Don't know if it was feed store or what. Stopped buying Texas Naturals and haven't had any more problems. Also changed feed stores.